Former heavyweight champ Ruiz retires
By Sports Network via Miamiherald.com, April 26, 2010
Former heavyweight champ John Ruiz has decided to call it a career.
Ruiz, nicknamed "The Quietman," was twice the owner of the WBA title and was the first heavyweight champ of Latino heritage.
"I've had a great career but it's time for me to turn the page and start a new chapter of my life," said Ruiz in a statement Monday. "I'm proud of what I accomplished with two world titles, 12 championship fights and being the first Latino heavyweight champion of the world. I fought anybody who got in the ring with me and never ducked anyone. Now, I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family."
The Massachusetts native plans to return to the Boston area to open a boxing gym in the inner city.
Ruiz, 38, finished with a career record of 44-9-1, including 30 knockouts. His last fight was April 3, a knockout loss to David Haye.
Six of Ruiz's nine losses came against world champions. He also beat three world champs in Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Latino brothers bring Hollywood to Mission District
Bratt brothers celebrate their neighborhood with film
By REED JOHNSON, LA Times via Star-telegram.com, Apr. 24, 2010
LOS ANGELES -- When Peter and Benjamin Bratt were growing up in San Francisco, the city's Mission District was the soul of their compact universe.
It was where their mother, a single parent, worked as a registered nurse and political organizer. It was where the boys and their siblings went to school and played in recreation centers. The area, named for the Spanish colonial Mission Dolores, was a neighborhood of lowriders, Peruvian flute players, American Indian and Latino activists, omnipresent street theater and vibrant murals that related the local history like "Aztec glyphs," Peter says.
Not surprisingly, for years afterward, the brothers dreamed of making a movie there together.
"We always wanted to tell a story in our back yard, in our hometown," says Peter, who still lives in San Francisco. "When you go see a Spike Lee film, Do the Right Thing, now we can say, 'Brooklyn' or 'Queens' or 'the Bronx,' [and] in South America or France, people know where those neighborhoods are."
But the right project didn't come along until Peter, a director and screenwriter, came up with the idea for La Mission, which is screening Wednesday at the USA Film Festival at the Angelika in Dallas and opening Friday at the Magnolia in Dallas. It stars his younger brother Benjamin, known for his award-winning role as Detective Rey Curtis on NBC's Law & Order as well as Pinero, Traffic and other films.
The privately financed movie, makes the Mission a virtual character in its tale of a proud, culturally old-school, macho Latino single father named Che Rivera (Benjamin Bratt), whose world is rocked to its foundations when his son Jes (Jeremy Ray Valdez), a bright UCLA scholarship student, comes out of the closet.
La Mission delves into the emotional thickets of homophobia, ethnic identity, domestic and street violence, and generational conflict.
But La Mission can also be read as the brothers' mash note to a community and a way of living.
"For all the heavy themes that the film focuses on, equally important to us was the effort to capture the exuberance and the real passion for life that lives in the Mission, in all its various forms," says Benjamin, an L.A. transplant. "And so right alongside the heartache within the film, we also want you to find the humor, as the characters do. "
The brothers have always been close, constantly socializing and not infrequently working together. Still, mix their temperamental differences with two strong creative visions and the pressures of co-producing an independent film, and sparks will fly.
"It wasn't all peace, love and Brussels sprouts, man," Benjamin says. "Because we know each other so well and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses, it's like there's a switchboard, and I know what button to push to get a certain reaction from him, and likewise he for me. "
The greatest tussle, however, may have been trying to get Hollywood financing. As an Emmy-nominated veteran of television and films, Benjamin says, he thought he had "enough relationships to get a compelling story like this told, fairly straightforwardly."
"But what we were met with was, one, 'It's an issue that's already been dealt with, the coming-out story of the son.' What they meant by that was, it's an issue that's already been dealt with in the dominant culture."
By REED JOHNSON, LA Times via Star-telegram.com, Apr. 24, 2010
LOS ANGELES -- When Peter and Benjamin Bratt were growing up in San Francisco, the city's Mission District was the soul of their compact universe.
It was where their mother, a single parent, worked as a registered nurse and political organizer. It was where the boys and their siblings went to school and played in recreation centers. The area, named for the Spanish colonial Mission Dolores, was a neighborhood of lowriders, Peruvian flute players, American Indian and Latino activists, omnipresent street theater and vibrant murals that related the local history like "Aztec glyphs," Peter says.
Not surprisingly, for years afterward, the brothers dreamed of making a movie there together.
"We always wanted to tell a story in our back yard, in our hometown," says Peter, who still lives in San Francisco. "When you go see a Spike Lee film, Do the Right Thing, now we can say, 'Brooklyn' or 'Queens' or 'the Bronx,' [and] in South America or France, people know where those neighborhoods are."
But the right project didn't come along until Peter, a director and screenwriter, came up with the idea for La Mission, which is screening Wednesday at the USA Film Festival at the Angelika in Dallas and opening Friday at the Magnolia in Dallas. It stars his younger brother Benjamin, known for his award-winning role as Detective Rey Curtis on NBC's Law & Order as well as Pinero, Traffic and other films.
The privately financed movie, makes the Mission a virtual character in its tale of a proud, culturally old-school, macho Latino single father named Che Rivera (Benjamin Bratt), whose world is rocked to its foundations when his son Jes (Jeremy Ray Valdez), a bright UCLA scholarship student, comes out of the closet.
La Mission delves into the emotional thickets of homophobia, ethnic identity, domestic and street violence, and generational conflict.
But La Mission can also be read as the brothers' mash note to a community and a way of living.
"For all the heavy themes that the film focuses on, equally important to us was the effort to capture the exuberance and the real passion for life that lives in the Mission, in all its various forms," says Benjamin, an L.A. transplant. "And so right alongside the heartache within the film, we also want you to find the humor, as the characters do. "
The brothers have always been close, constantly socializing and not infrequently working together. Still, mix their temperamental differences with two strong creative visions and the pressures of co-producing an independent film, and sparks will fly.
"It wasn't all peace, love and Brussels sprouts, man," Benjamin says. "Because we know each other so well and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses, it's like there's a switchboard, and I know what button to push to get a certain reaction from him, and likewise he for me. "
The greatest tussle, however, may have been trying to get Hollywood financing. As an Emmy-nominated veteran of television and films, Benjamin says, he thought he had "enough relationships to get a compelling story like this told, fairly straightforwardly."
"But what we were met with was, one, 'It's an issue that's already been dealt with, the coming-out story of the son.' What they meant by that was, it's an issue that's already been dealt with in the dominant culture."
Latino stars react to Arizona immigration law
Latino Stars React To Arizona Immigration Law
Access Hollywood.com
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Hollywood’s Latino stars are taking to their Twitter pages to respond to a controversial new Arizona law that has drawn backlash from even the White House.
“ARIZONA .. George Lopez is coming .. Oops .. I just got pulled over .. Apparently I fit the profile .. Gacho !!” the late night comedian Tweeted on Friday, following up with more Tweets over the weekend.
“The Crackdown in ARIZONA continues .. The New Taco Bell TORTADA has been outlawed .by GOV Jan Brewer .. As a treat to the Colon"s of her people !” he Tweeted. “The changing the name of PATRON to make it more ARIZONA friendly .. Now .. PAT RON.”
Ricky Martin also spoke out against the new law, which is aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration. However, some have suggested it will lead to unjust racial profiling.
“Racial profiling should never be tolerated, in the US or anywhere in the world. We’re moving backwards. Scary. #SB1070,” he Tweeted on Saturday.
Eva Longoria Parker re-Tweeted both stars’ messages, as well as a Tweet from President Barack Obama’s official account – “The recent legislation in Arizona threatens to undermine basic notions of fairness.”
Senate Bill 1070, signed by Gov. Brewer on Friday, represents a crackdown on illegal immigration and requires authorities to question individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants – prompting protests in the state capitol on Friday and leaving many concerned that the law will lead to racial profiling.
According to CNN, the governor will require officers to undergo “additional training” to avoid such concerns while enforcing the law.
Access Hollywood.com
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Hollywood’s Latino stars are taking to their Twitter pages to respond to a controversial new Arizona law that has drawn backlash from even the White House.
“ARIZONA .. George Lopez is coming .. Oops .. I just got pulled over .. Apparently I fit the profile .. Gacho !!” the late night comedian Tweeted on Friday, following up with more Tweets over the weekend.
“The Crackdown in ARIZONA continues .. The New Taco Bell TORTADA has been outlawed .by GOV Jan Brewer .. As a treat to the Colon"s of her people !” he Tweeted. “The changing the name of PATRON to make it more ARIZONA friendly .. Now .. PAT RON.”
Ricky Martin also spoke out against the new law, which is aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration. However, some have suggested it will lead to unjust racial profiling.
“Racial profiling should never be tolerated, in the US or anywhere in the world. We’re moving backwards. Scary. #SB1070,” he Tweeted on Saturday.
Eva Longoria Parker re-Tweeted both stars’ messages, as well as a Tweet from President Barack Obama’s official account – “The recent legislation in Arizona threatens to undermine basic notions of fairness.”
Senate Bill 1070, signed by Gov. Brewer on Friday, represents a crackdown on illegal immigration and requires authorities to question individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants – prompting protests in the state capitol on Friday and leaving many concerned that the law will lead to racial profiling.
According to CNN, the governor will require officers to undergo “additional training” to avoid such concerns while enforcing the law.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Latino social network site promotes community
Latino social network site promotes community
By Nilki Benitez, Contributing Writer
At Qoobole!, the Latino community now has an online home where they can come together to share their stories, ideas, and most importantly, their spirit of community involvement.
Bay Area’s Frank Flores co-founded the Latino social network Qoobole! in 2009 to unite Latinos in the spirit of community involvement and support. Originally from El Salvador, Flores wanted to get involved with the Bay Area community, but he found it hard to track down all the different organizations and their events. He saw the need for a dedicated space where Latinos could come together and find all the resources they needed to become involved with their community.
Many Latino social networking sites exist online, but Qoobole! is one of the few that seamlessly merges the fun and easy-going platform of a social networking site with the serious business of creating a positive impact in our communities. Its focus revolves around building the community, supporting the younger generation through the networking possibilities, and ad revenues. In addition, Qoobole! promotes mentorship programs that connect successful Latino community leaders and business owners with younger generations, providing a system of support while simultaneously instilling a culture of giving back in our future leaders.
By providing a platform where community members, businesses and organizations can learn about each other, Qoobole! hopes to facilitate organic partnerships between these entities, and in doing so, create opportunities that support economically disadvantaged youth with their aspirations of higher education. An example of this was Qoobole!’s partnership with Pro Wrestling Revolution to support their fund-raising event for San Francisco’s John O’Connell High School in January which raised funds for after-school academics and sports in hopes of helping keep youth off the streets and continuing their education.
Qoobole! also hopes to reach and inspire youth through the arts by supporting various performing arts and cultural events in the community. In March, Qoobole! partnered with The Chavez Family Vision Foundation and Si Se Puede! Learning Center in Hollister, CA to sponsor a student field trip to the musical drama “Let the Eagle Fly-The Story of Cesar E. Chavez”. Forty students and ten adults from a low-income housing unit operated by the UFW were able to attend this inspiring musical about Cesar Chavez and the grape boycott.
Currently, Qoobole!’s main focus is on increasing their site’s visibility in the Latino community as well as forming strategic partnerships with community leaders.
Qoobole!’s interactive social networking site allows users to view events by location or date and includes content videos, and much more.
We recently spoke with Qoobole! co-founder Frank Flores:
Q: What is Qoobole!'s mission statement?
A: To connect the Latino community to leaders, organizations, programs and causes by way of events and social tools.
Q: Why did you create Qoobole!?
A: I created Qoobole! because I was having trouble finding places where I could volunteer and connect with my community. I also wanted to reach out to leaders who are not exposed to the youth and to the community at large about their efforts.
Q: What is your vision for Qoobole?
A: My vision for Qoobole! is to create a down to earth social network that truly connected to its people no matter where they are. It could be the Bronx, the Mission, Little Habana or Little Mexico in California - it doesn't matter no matter what, we are Latinos and if we can connect on large scales, we can move mountains. Qoobole! wants to provide the platform for positive causes, connections and community involvement.
Q: There are many other Latino social networks out there-how is Qoobole different?
A: I love meeting new people, love positive movements and really love connecting people. Qoobole! has that essence and while we Latinos like to also have fun, Qoobole! is about real causes, action and motion to drive help to those people and organizations who need it.
Q: What sets Qoobole! apart?
A: Our personable approach sets us apart from the rest. I talk to everyone one of my members. I want to know what they want, what they need, and how I can help them in their efforts.
Q: Why is Qoobole! important?
A: It’s important because social networks today have become one too many, and somehow diluted to that powerful essence of moving mountains. Social networks are a virtual way for us to communicate and if we can help improve our daily real lives by using virtual social media tools, this is where Qoobole! wants to be very instrumental.
Q: What areas/departments will Qoobole! focus on?
A: Qoobole! will focus in the areas of local community, reaching out to local organizations that help low income students reach college. We also want to reach out to organizations that want to reach the Latino community though performing arts as I feel very strongly about and think that youth need to be exposed to these things as it will be another way for them to learn their history that they won't otherwise learn in schools, at least spark an interest. Qoobole! also wants to engage with local community leaders so that they can become mentors to our youth in our local communities and therefore inspire future leaders in our communities.
Q: Who is your audience?
A: Our audience is all Latinos who are interested in local community, who participate in local organizations, are involved in one or more non-profits, run their own businesses and still find time for friends and family. Our audience also enjoys music, sports, gossip and politics.
Q: Who makes up Qoobole!?
A: Frank Flores, Co-Founder and Director of Business Development and Community volunteer and advisor. I run the day-to-day operations of the site's exposure on the Internet and off-line. I am also the Director of business Development as my job is also to interest potential partnerships with other non-competing companies.
Nathaniel Burnett, Co-Founder and Lead Programmer who is the author of the design of Qoobole!. Nathaniel is also involved in the community volunteering and has a big interest in the Latino community. He runs the daily technical operations of Qoobole!'s backend.
Mary McKinnon, Community Manager. Mary is our community manager and marketing and sales contact. She is in charge of answering ad sales and also performs research about the industry that Qoobole! is a part of and how we can improve.
Jorge Chamorro, Events Manager. Jorge is our events manager. In the near future, Qoobole! wants to reach businesses to gather for socials where coming together will mean helping out causes which will benefit the Latino community.
Nilki Benitez is an independent writer. Follow her blog at http://nilkibenitez.blogspot.com/
By Nilki Benitez, Contributing Writer
At Qoobole!, the Latino community now has an online home where they can come together to share their stories, ideas, and most importantly, their spirit of community involvement.
Bay Area’s Frank Flores co-founded the Latino social network Qoobole! in 2009 to unite Latinos in the spirit of community involvement and support. Originally from El Salvador, Flores wanted to get involved with the Bay Area community, but he found it hard to track down all the different organizations and their events. He saw the need for a dedicated space where Latinos could come together and find all the resources they needed to become involved with their community.
Many Latino social networking sites exist online, but Qoobole! is one of the few that seamlessly merges the fun and easy-going platform of a social networking site with the serious business of creating a positive impact in our communities. Its focus revolves around building the community, supporting the younger generation through the networking possibilities, and ad revenues. In addition, Qoobole! promotes mentorship programs that connect successful Latino community leaders and business owners with younger generations, providing a system of support while simultaneously instilling a culture of giving back in our future leaders.
By providing a platform where community members, businesses and organizations can learn about each other, Qoobole! hopes to facilitate organic partnerships between these entities, and in doing so, create opportunities that support economically disadvantaged youth with their aspirations of higher education. An example of this was Qoobole!’s partnership with Pro Wrestling Revolution to support their fund-raising event for San Francisco’s John O’Connell High School in January which raised funds for after-school academics and sports in hopes of helping keep youth off the streets and continuing their education.
Qoobole! also hopes to reach and inspire youth through the arts by supporting various performing arts and cultural events in the community. In March, Qoobole! partnered with The Chavez Family Vision Foundation and Si Se Puede! Learning Center in Hollister, CA to sponsor a student field trip to the musical drama “Let the Eagle Fly-The Story of Cesar E. Chavez”. Forty students and ten adults from a low-income housing unit operated by the UFW were able to attend this inspiring musical about Cesar Chavez and the grape boycott.
Currently, Qoobole!’s main focus is on increasing their site’s visibility in the Latino community as well as forming strategic partnerships with community leaders.
Qoobole!’s interactive social networking site allows users to view events by location or date and includes content videos, and much more.
We recently spoke with Qoobole! co-founder Frank Flores:
Q: What is Qoobole!'s mission statement?
A: To connect the Latino community to leaders, organizations, programs and causes by way of events and social tools.
Q: Why did you create Qoobole!?
A: I created Qoobole! because I was having trouble finding places where I could volunteer and connect with my community. I also wanted to reach out to leaders who are not exposed to the youth and to the community at large about their efforts.
Q: What is your vision for Qoobole?
A: My vision for Qoobole! is to create a down to earth social network that truly connected to its people no matter where they are. It could be the Bronx, the Mission, Little Habana or Little Mexico in California - it doesn't matter no matter what, we are Latinos and if we can connect on large scales, we can move mountains. Qoobole! wants to provide the platform for positive causes, connections and community involvement.
Q: There are many other Latino social networks out there-how is Qoobole different?
A: I love meeting new people, love positive movements and really love connecting people. Qoobole! has that essence and while we Latinos like to also have fun, Qoobole! is about real causes, action and motion to drive help to those people and organizations who need it.
Q: What sets Qoobole! apart?
A: Our personable approach sets us apart from the rest. I talk to everyone one of my members. I want to know what they want, what they need, and how I can help them in their efforts.
Q: Why is Qoobole! important?
A: It’s important because social networks today have become one too many, and somehow diluted to that powerful essence of moving mountains. Social networks are a virtual way for us to communicate and if we can help improve our daily real lives by using virtual social media tools, this is where Qoobole! wants to be very instrumental.
Q: What areas/departments will Qoobole! focus on?
A: Qoobole! will focus in the areas of local community, reaching out to local organizations that help low income students reach college. We also want to reach out to organizations that want to reach the Latino community though performing arts as I feel very strongly about and think that youth need to be exposed to these things as it will be another way for them to learn their history that they won't otherwise learn in schools, at least spark an interest. Qoobole! also wants to engage with local community leaders so that they can become mentors to our youth in our local communities and therefore inspire future leaders in our communities.
Q: Who is your audience?
A: Our audience is all Latinos who are interested in local community, who participate in local organizations, are involved in one or more non-profits, run their own businesses and still find time for friends and family. Our audience also enjoys music, sports, gossip and politics.
Q: Who makes up Qoobole!?
A: Frank Flores, Co-Founder and Director of Business Development and Community volunteer and advisor. I run the day-to-day operations of the site's exposure on the Internet and off-line. I am also the Director of business Development as my job is also to interest potential partnerships with other non-competing companies.
Nathaniel Burnett, Co-Founder and Lead Programmer who is the author of the design of Qoobole!. Nathaniel is also involved in the community volunteering and has a big interest in the Latino community. He runs the daily technical operations of Qoobole!'s backend.
Mary McKinnon, Community Manager. Mary is our community manager and marketing and sales contact. She is in charge of answering ad sales and also performs research about the industry that Qoobole! is a part of and how we can improve.
Jorge Chamorro, Events Manager. Jorge is our events manager. In the near future, Qoobole! wants to reach businesses to gather for socials where coming together will mean helping out causes which will benefit the Latino community.
Nilki Benitez is an independent writer. Follow her blog at http://nilkibenitez.blogspot.com/
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